Social Contexts of SLABy Yenny Tanzino

16 Oct 2010

Perspective Focus Framework

Linguistic Internal Transformational-Generative GrammarPrinciples and Parameters ModelMinimalist Program

External Functionalism

Languages and the brain Neurolinguistics

Psychological Learning processes Information processingProcessabilityConnectionism

Individual differences Humanistic model

Social Microsocial Variation TheoryAccomodation TheorySocialcultural Theory

Macrosocial Ethnography of CommunicationAcculturation TheorySocial Psychology

When we talk about what is being acquired in SLA, it is not enough just to talk about the language itself. We must also include the social and cultural knowledge embedded in the language being learned, that is required for appropriate language use.

What must L2 learners know?Categorizing objects & events and expressing

experiences in a different ways.Understanding their own and other roles as

members of communities w/ sociopolitical bounds.

Communicative CompetenceWhat a speaker need to know to

communicate appropriately within a particular language community.

It involves knowing:1. vocabulary, phonology, grammar & other

aspects of linguistic structure.2. When to speak (or not), what to say to

whom, and how to say it appropriately in any given situations.

3. The social & cultural knowledge which enable speakers to use and interpret linguistic forms.

Language CommunityA group of people who share knowledge of a

common language.

Two levels of context affecting language learningMicrosocial factors

the potential effects of different surrounding circumstances.

Macrosocial factorsrelates SLA to broader cultural, political, and educational environments.

Microsocial factors1. L2 variation2. Input & interaction3. Vygotsky’s Socialcultural Theory

1. L2 VariationCharacteristic of L2 learner languageit’s

highly variableDue to changes that occurs in what learners

know & can produce as they progressively achieve higher levels of L2 proficiency.

There’s also variation in learners’ L2 production at every stage along the way of their social context.

Communicative contexts1. Linguistic contexs2. Psycological contexts3. Microsocial contexts

1. Linguistic contexselements of language form & function associated w/ the variable element.Ex: comi ng, bri ng

2. Psycological contexts3. Microsocial contexts

1. Linguistic contexs2. Psycological contexts

factors associated w/ the amount of attention which is being given to language form during production, the level of automaticity versus control in processing, or the intellectual demands of a particular task.Ex: This is a nice car.

3. Microsocial contexts

Communicative contexts1. Linguistic contexs2. Psycological contexts3. Microsocial contexts

Features of situation & interaction which relate to communicative events within which language is being produced, interpreted, & negotiated.

This include: Level of formality Participants’ relationship to one another If the interaction is public or intimate

Linguistic & Psychological Perspectives InterestVariation that occurs in learners’ language as

they develop increasing competence over a period of time

Developmental continuum

Social Perspective InterestVariation occurs in different contexts at a

single point in time.Correspond to informal-formal features

associated w/ linguistic register.

Accommodation TheorySpeakers change their pronunciation & even

grammatical complexity of sentences they use to sound more like whomever they’re talking to.

Native speakers tend to simplify their language when they’re talking to an L2 learner who is not fluent.

L2 learners may require somewhat different varieties of the target language when they’ve different friends.

2. Input & InteractionLanguage input to the learner is necessary

for either L1 or L2 learning to take place.Behaviorist learning theory input is

important to form the stimuli & feedback which learners respond to & imitate.

Krashen’s Monitor Model comprehensible input not only necessary but sufficient in itself to account for SLA.

Proponents of UG exposure to input, a necessary trigger for activating internal mechanism.

Input & InteractionPsycological approaches input which is

attended to as essential data for all stages of language processing.

Social approaches input primarily as ‘data’ for essentially innate linguistic & cognitive processes

Nature of input modificationsLanguage addressed by L1 speakers to L2

learners is different from the one addressed to native speakers.

Utterances by native speakers to language learners are grammatical, simplified input may omit some obligatory elements. ___you like it?

Foreigner Talk:- Long pauses- Careful articulation- Retention of full forms

Nature of interactional modificationsSocial interaction is essential for L1

acquisition.No children can learn their initial language

just by listening to tape recordings, radio broadcast,or TV program.

For L2 learners, interaction is essential but not absolutely necessary.

FeedbackFeedback from NSs make NNSs aware that

their use isn’t acceptable & provides a model for correctnes.

Corrective feedback is necessary for most learners to achieve native-like levels proficiency.

Negative feedback

Intake to cognitive processingInput contributes to acquisition only if it

becomes intake, not if it goes in one ear and out the other.

According to the Interaction Hypothesis, social interaction facilitates SLA because they contribute to the accessibility of input for mental processing: “ negotiation for meaning”

Some learners are more successful than others includes the degree of access to social experience which allows for negotiation of meaning & corrective feedback.

3. Vygotsky’s Sociocultural TheoryInteraction not only facilitates language learning

but is a causative force in acquisition.All of learning is sees as essentially a social process

which is grounded in sociocultural settings.Learning occurs when simple innate mental

activities are transformed into more complex mental functions.

This transformation involve: symbolic mediation (a link between a person’s current mental state & higher order functions that’s provided by language).

The results include learners’ awareness of their own mental abilities & more control over their thought processes.

Interpersonal InteractionCommunicative events & situations which

occur between people.According to S-C Theory, mental functions

that are beyond an individual’s current level must be performed in collaboration w/ other people.

Others help the learner in language development through scaffolding (verbal guidance) which happens w/ a learner as an active participant.

Ex: Teacher providing help to a student when performing any task

Intrapersonal InteractionCommunication that occurs within an individual’s

own mind.When translating to oneself.Private speech provides good evidence that even

when we’re not interacting w/ other, they’re assimilating input.

Audible private speech takes place where imitation of other controlled response to linguistic input is considered normal behavior.

Private writing in which individuals record language forms & other meaningful symbols on paper, to help store items in memory, organize thought, solve problems w/out intention to communicate w/ others.